SOUTHERN GOLD COAST TRAFFIC PLAN

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF THE PACIFIC MOTORWAY

The Palaszczuk Government during the Bulletin’s Going for Gold campaign committed to delivering two major upgrades at Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes and at the Gateway merge.

The Government committed to a third major upgrade with $206 million on the table to finish a six-lane minimum highway to the border.

Building Queensland is assisting with the preliminary business case for the Varsity to the border upgrade. The estimated cost is yet to be determined.

The Transport Department timeline to finish the 5.7km section from Mudgeeraba to Varsity is “early 2020”, with delays caused by the Commonwealth Games.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF THE TRAM LINE

In May 2016 the council endorsed a route from Broadbeach South station to Coolangatta via the airport as the next priority.

A draft business case has construction of Stage 3A to Burleigh, starting in July 2020, will be completed by June 2023.

Planning and consultation on Stage 3B is not likely to occur until at least 2019.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO PREVENT TRAFFIC CHAOS

The council and the State Government will face an ongoing protest by many residents from Burleigh south to Palm Beach concerned that the trams will encourage highrise developments and destroy village life.

State MPs Michael Hart and Jann Stuckey and area councillor Daphne McDonald will urge a rethink, saying the tram line would be better suited west from Burleigh to Reedy Creek and then south along the heavy rail corridor to Tugun.

The light rail business case shows the six-laning of the M1 from Varsity to Tugun will reinforce the benefits of light rail stage three.

But the upgrade must be done in the next decade.

If an accident occurs on the M1 at four lanes and the Gold Coast Highway as the alternative arterial route is compromised in width or speed, the south of city will remain in gridlock.